Fly-tipping across the Isle of Wight continues to soar with a near 15% rise in the number of reported cases in just 2 years – but the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believes these figures only tell a fraction of the story. Official figures from DEFRA show that in 2022/21, the Isle of Wight had a total of 749 recorded instances of fly-tipping. A year later that number had grown to 855. Now, in 2022/23, that total figure sits at a whopping 920 – that’s a 7.6% increase year-on-year and a 14.2% increase in just 2 years. Although shocking, the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) – which represents around 27,000 rural businesses across England and Wales – believes these figures don’t reveal the true extent of the problem. Many fly-tipping incidents occur on privately-owned land so may not be included in the above figures, painting an even more damaging picture of the financial burden and environmental impact fly-tipping brings. Sam Biles, who farms in Calbourne, has seen numerous items dumped in the village. He has said:
“The lanes here are not busy and are frequently the scene of fly-tipping. In the last year there have been tyres, broken glass, fridges and builders’ waste dumped in the various laybys. “It is such a shame – we are in the heart of the island’s National Landscape and it really detracts from the beauty of our environment. However vigilant we are as a community the fly-tippers continue their thoughtless activities.”
Tim Bamford, CLA Regional Director, says:
“These fly-tipping figures barely scratch the surface of a crime that’s blighting rural communities, with incidents on private land going unrecorded on a mass scale. “Farmers and landowners bear the cost of removing rubbish and they pay on average £1,000 to remove waste. This is not a victimless crime – in some cases they have paid up to £100,000 to clear up other people’s mess or risk facing prosecution themselves. “It’s not just litter blotting the landscape, but tonnes of household and commercial waste which can often be hazardous – even including asbestos and chemicals – endangering farmers, wildlife, livestock, crops and the environment. “While courts can sentence offenders to prison or unlimited fines, prosecutions are rare and criminals clearly do not fear the system. We are calling for local authorities to help clear fly-tipping incidents on private as well as public land, while the various enforcement agencies must be properly trained and resourced. “Without more progress farmers, not the criminals, will continue to pay the price.”
